Key-ring.



- G. J. KIRBY.

KEY RING. APPLIQATION FILED JAN. 6, 1906.

v 932,787. v Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

vwanto'n,

atbofonego UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE. I. mBY 01 WELIHANTIO, CONNECTICUT.

. KEY-RING.

Specification of netters l fatent. Patented'Aug. 31, 1909.

Application filed January 6., 1908. Serial No. 409,660.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen J. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Willimantic, in the county of Windham and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key- Rings; and I do hereby declare the follow-v ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains to This invention relates to key rings and I has for an object to provide a ring embodylng new and improved features of convenience, reliability, economy and strength.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a key ring means for maintaining the ring in retaining position with the greatest convenience for changing the same to releasing position. I

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel construe tions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereafter fully describedand claimed.

In the'drawings:Figure 1 is a view of the improved. key. ringin side elevation.

Fig. 2 1s a view in edge elevation of the key ring in retainin or' locked position as taken on the arrow o Fi 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the key ring in e geelevation similar to Fig. 2except that the device is shown in unlocked or releasing position. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view throu h the overlapped ends taken on line 4-4 0 Fig. 2 and in unlocked or retaining position. Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view throu h the overlapped ends taken on line 5-5 of ig. 3 and in unlocked or releasing position.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several,

v1ews.

The improved keyring forming the subs ect-matter of this application'comprisesa rin portion 10 composed of wire or similar resi ient material and inany approved form here shown as circular.

tance removed from the extremities when in as shown at 13 so that in locked position there is a sli ht space as 14 between the respective over -lapped ends and also between the extremities.

When the ring is in locked or retaining position as shown in Fig. 2 the key may be moved over the overlapped ends without interference from such ends owing to the tapered form of the extremities.

To unlock the ring or position the same in releasing condition the extremities are moved rotatably about each other as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 whereby the extremities of the ring are disposed in reverse relation to each other as shown in .V-shaped aperture upon each side of the meeting point of such ends. It will be noted that by reason of the curvature of the extremitles at 13 the said extremities. flare outwardly to a greater extent than as though the curved formation were not provided.

When the extremities are disposed relative to each other as shown in Flg. 3 a key may be moved about the ring and passed between the engaging ends owing to the resilient formatlon of the material, but owing to the fact that the ends engage each other a key u on the ring will not be accidentally disp aced therefrom, even though the ring become accidentally moved to unlocked or releasing position.

When a key has been taken off or put on with the ring in the position shown m Fig. 3 the points are again rotated about each other as indicatedby the arrow in Fig.- 5 to the locked position shown in Fig. 2.

' It is intended to make the ring of such material that the movement of the ends about each other will be resisted with some force and with the points once disposed in locking relation to each other will not be rotated about'each" othe r to change from looking to unlocking position or vice versa.

While in Figs. 4 and 5 arrows are shown to indicate the movement of the ends about each other it is to be understood that the endsmay be moved as readily and satisfac- -torilyin the directions opposite those indicated by the arrows.

that are It will be noted from the drawings when the end portions of the key in normalposition, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the extremities bear against the flattened sides of the said end portions and have no tendency toward springing said end portions away from each other, as it is in this manner obviated.

What I claim is Y v A key ring comprised of a whirl of resilient wire cylindrical in cross section through out the major portion of its extent, the wire being bent so that its end portions overside of each end portion being flattened, the

said end portions being normally positioned with the pointed extremity of each end bearing against the flattened side of the other producing a space between the members between the incurved points, and being adapted to be rotated one about the other to bring their convex sides in contact at points inwardly of their extremities and with the oint now curved outwardly and spaced om the rounded sides of the adjacent member.

-In testimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence 6 two witnesses.

' GEORGE J. KIRBY, Witnesses:

v CHA'rrmLn H. KIP,

Gnonon W. MELONY. 

